Word forms: comparative abler (eɪbləʳ), superlative ablest (eɪblɪst)
1.
See be able to
2.
See be able to
3. adjective
Someone who is able is very clever or very good at doing something.
...one of the brightest and ablest members of the government.
They are bright, intelligent, able and confident.
can1
Synonyms: capable, experienced, fit, fitted More Synonyms of able
More Synonyms of able
-able
(-əbəl)
suffix
-able combines with verbs to form adjectives. Adjectives formed in this way describe someone or something that can have a particular thing done to them. For example, if something is avoidable, it can be avoided.
These injuries were avoidable.
He was an admirable chairman.
able in British English
(ˈeɪbəl)
adjective
1. (postpositive)
having the necessary power, resources, skill, time, opportunity, etc, to do something
able to swim
2.
capable; competent; talented
an able teacher
3. law
qualified, competent, or authorized to do some specific act
Word origin
C14: ultimately from Latin habilis easy to hold, manageable, apt, from habēre to have, hold + -ilis-ile
-able in British English
suffix forming adjectives
1.
capable of, suitable for, or deserving of (being acted upon as indicated)
enjoyable
pitiable
readable
separable
washable
2.
inclined to; given to; able to; causing
comfortable
reasonable
variable
Derived forms
-ably
suffix forming adverbs
-ability
suffix forming nouns
Word origin
via Old French from Latin -ābilis,-ībilis, forms of -bilis, adjectival suffix
able in American English
(ˈeɪbəl)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈabler (ˈeɪblər) or ˈablest (ˈeɪbləst)
1.
having enough power, skill, etc. to do something
able to read
2.
having much power of mind; skilled; talented
an able teacher
3. Law
legally qualified, authorized, or competent to do a specified act
SYNONYMY NOTE: able implies having power or ability to do something [able to make payments] but sometimes suggests superior power or skill [an able orator]; capable usually implies the mere meeting of ordinary requirements [a capable machinist]; competent, qualified both imply the possession of the requisite qualifications for the specified work,situation, etc., but , qualified stresses compliance with specified requirements [a competent critic of modern art, a qualified voter]
OPPOSITE: inept
Word origin
ME < OFr hable, habile < L habilis, easily handled, apt < habere, to have, hold: see habit
-able in American English
(əbəl)
1.
that can or will
perishable
2.
capable of being ____ed
manageable
3.
worthy of being ____ed
lovable
4.
having qualities of
comfortable
5.
tending or inclined to
peaceable
-ble, -ible
Word origin
ME < OFr < L -abilis
Examples of 'able' in a sentence
able
You need somebody on the panel who is able to read and judge medical documentation.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And a fifth of parents are downsizing to be able to afford that price hike.
The Sun (2016)
Is there no one able to do the things that we all know need doing?
The Sun (2016)
That means you have space out wide and are able to get in more crosses.
The Sun (2016)
Few people are able to read their own obituaries.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He should be able to go one better.
The Sun (2016)
Some have already been able to get out and play golf.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Will spectators be able to afford multiple games at the same ground in a short space of time?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It wouldn't be the first time capitalism proved able to adjust to new realities.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
There will be very few people in the country who will be able to afford it.
The Sun (2013)
Those are the students who are going to be able to get jobs.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Being able to read and spell and write letters and documents is vital.
The Sun (2010)
We need a government able to raise our country off its knees.
The Sun (2012)
You have to pedal very hard through life to be able to afford one.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You can get the balance right between being confident and being able to listen to advice.
The Sun (2008)
There were lots of times she was able to ask me for help.
The Sun (2013)
Riders must be competent and able to spend four to six hours daily in the saddle.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We have met some of the most intelligent and able people in the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Now he is worried about being able to afford the pet.
The Sun (2009)
He seemed to be able to get away with it.
The Sun (2012)
At least if she can read she will be able to read signs when she drives.
The Sun (2012)
The government would be able to win because it had won the war.
Redwood, John The Global Marketplace (1993)
No one will be able to follow in your footsteps with such gentle tact and marvellous support.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Families depend on mums being able to spend time with their newborn.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
No one will be able to afford to come shopping here now.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Entrepreneurs should be able to get the same benefits as investors.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
At last they will be able to read and be better informed.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Our government is more able to resist outside forces that might stop us doing our own thing.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You can get the balance right between being confident and able to take advice in allyou do.
The Sun (2008)
Do not feel like you are less qualified or less competent to be able to do the job because you are different.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You'll be able to ask intelligent questions and zero in on particular problem areas.
Christianity Today (2000)
Lallana is such a bright footballer, able to tailor his work to the needs of the situation.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The first sign of decline of an industry is loss of appeal to qualified, able, and ambitious people.
Peter F. Drucker THE ESSENTIAL DRUCKER (2001)
In other languages
able
British English: able /ˈeɪbl/ ADJECTIVE
An able person is clever or good at doing something.
He was one of the most able men in the industry.
American English: able
Arabic: قادِر
Brazilian Portuguese: capaz
Chinese: 能
Croatian: sposoban
Czech: schopný
Danish: være i stand til
Dutch: bekwaam in staat tot
European Spanish: capaz competente
Finnish: kykenevä
French: capable
German: fähig
Greek: ικανός
Italian: capace
Japanese: ･･･ができる
Korean: 할 수 있는
Norwegian: dyktig
Polish: zdolny
European Portuguese: capaz
Romanian: capabil
Russian: способный
Latin American Spanish: capaz
Swedish: skicklig
Thai: สามารถ
Turkish: muktedir
Ukrainian: здатний
Vietnamese: có khả năng
All related terms of 'able'
over-able
too able
able-bodied
An able-bodied person is physically strong and healthy, rather than being weak or having a disability.
able-minded
intelligent and decisive
able pupil
The pupils of a school are the children who go to it.
able rating
(esp in the Royal Navy ) a rating who is qualified to perform certain duties of seamanship
able seaman
an ordinary seaman , esp one in the merchant navy , who has been trained in certain skills . Also called: able-bodied seaman
be able to
If you are able to do something, you have skills or qualities which make it possible for you to do it.
come-at-able
easy to approach , enter , use, or understand
get-at-able
accessible
doable
If something is doable , it is possible to do it.
able-bodied seaman
an ordinary seaman , esp one in the merchant navy , who has been trained in certain skills
un-come-at-able
not accessible
un-get-at-able
very difficult to get hold of or get close to
able to do something blindfolded
able to do something very easily , for example because of having done it many times before
not be able to run a chook raffle
to be totally incompetent
can't see the wood for the trees not be able to see the wood for the trees
If someone can't see the wood for the trees in British English, or can't see the forest for the trees in American English, they are very involved in the details of something and so they do not notice what is important about the thing as a whole .
Chinese translation of 'able'
able
(ˈeɪbl)
adj
to be able to do sth (have skill, ability) 能够(夠)做某事 (nénggòu zuò mǒushì)
⇒ The giant frog is able to jump three metres.大青蛙能够跳3米远。 (Dà qīngwā nénggòu tiào sān mǐ yuǎn.)
(have opportunity) 可以做某事 (kěyǐ zuò mǒushì)
(= clever)[pupil, player]有才能的 (yǒu cáinéng de)
you'll be able to read in peace here你可以在这(這)里(裡)安静(靜)地看书(書)。 (nǐ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ ānjìng de kànshū)
see usage note
can
All related terms of 'able'
to be able to do sth
( have skill, ability ) 能够(夠)做某事 nénggòu zuò mǒushì ⇒ The giant frog is able to jump three metres. → 大青蛙能够跳3米远。 Dà qīngwā nénggòu tiào sān mǐ yuǎn.